All three rear cameras have been upgraded on the Google Pixel 8 Pro, so I took it to a portrait shoot to test the ultra wide, main, 2x and 5x cameras, the new pro controls, Magic Eraser, portrait mode, the selfie camera, video, vlogging and Night Sight.
Most of the photos in this post were edited with my Amalfi Lightroom preset pack, and the telephoto shots at the end with my Dulce pack. I took photos without tapping the screen or adjusting anything, so you can see how it performs out of the box.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Google Pixel 8 Pro camera specs and price
| Camera | Specs |
|---|---|
| Ultra wide (0.5x) | 48MP, 12mm equivalent, faster aperture than the 7 Pro |
| Main (1x) | 50MP, 24mm equivalent |
| Telephoto (5x) | 48MP, 110mm equivalent |
| Pro controls | Brightness, shadows, white balance, focus, shutter speed and ISO |
| Video | Up to 4K |
| Price | From US$999 / A$1,699 at launch |
Ultra wide camera
The ultra wide is a 12mm equivalent and now produces 48MP files with a faster aperture than the Pixel 7 Pro's 12MP ultra wide. The video from this camera looks amazing too: clear, sharp and vibrant with smooth stabilisation, with just a little noise in the darkest areas. See the ultra wide test.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Main camera
The main camera is a 24mm equivalent with 50MP files and an improved aperture, and I'm absolutely blown away by the quality, especially with lots of light. The processing has a really nice balance between sharpness and character. My only downside is speed: in 50MP RAW plus JPEG I could take about three to five photos before it slowed down between shots, which could matter when photographing kids, pets or groups. At 12MP, or JPEG only, it's much faster. See the main camera photos.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Pro controls and Magic Eraser
The 8 Pro really lives up to its name. You can now manually set brightness, shadows, white balance, focus, shutter speed and ISO in the native camera app, and they're all easy to reach with your right thumb. I also used Magic Eraser to remove some distracting objects in a window and a piece of rubbish on the ground, and it did a great job. See the pro controls.
Edited with my Amalfi preset.
Unedited
Edited with Amalfi
Unedited on the left, edited with my Amalfi preset on the right.
2x zoom for portraits
I normally use 2x when I want to isolate my subject a little more. Even in the shade with just a little backlight, I was really impressed with the detail, and it looks even better in the sun. See the 2x portraits.
Left and centre: edited with my Amalfi preset. Right: edited with my Dulce preset.
Left and centre: edited with my Amalfi preset. Right: edited with my Dulce preset.
Left and centre: edited with my Amalfi preset. Right: edited with my Dulce preset.
5x telephoto camera
The 5x telephoto is a 110mm equivalent with 48MP files and a faster aperture than last year, so it needs less light, though direct bright light still gives the best results. I photographed half of the model's face in shade and half in sun, and the phone balanced the tricky light really well. In the RAW I used a brush in Lightroom to lift the shadowy side. Video at 5x is impressively stable, although the stabilisation fought me a little when I tried to pan. See the 5x telephoto.
Edited with my Dulce preset.
Edited with my Dulce preset.
Edited with my Dulce preset.
Portrait mode, selfies and vlogging
Portrait mode looks good as a whole, but when you zoom in the blur outline is a bit obvious in places, and it struggles a little with curly hair. The selfie camera now has autofocus, with a 1x and a slightly wider 0.7x option that I really like for showing more background. For vlogging I tested the selfie, main and ultra wide cameras while walking, and the ultra wide is so much fun for travel. See portrait mode and vlogging.
Night Sight
To finish, I tested Night Sight at the harbour with Centrepoint Tower in the background, just before a storm rolled in. I was really happy with the photos I did manage to get before the rain. See the Night Sight photos.
Before and after with Amalfi
Unedited
Edited with Amalfi
Unedited on the left, edited with my Amalfi preset on the right.
Is the Pixel 8 Pro good for portrait photography?
With all three rear cameras upgraded, the Pixel 8 Pro is a huge step up. The main camera blew me away, the pro controls finally give photographers real control, and the video and stabilisation look fantastic. The 50MP RAW plus JPEG mode can slow down with burst shooting, but overall this is one of the best phone cameras I've used for portraits.
Google Pixel 8 Pro camera FAQ
Is the Pixel 8 Pro good for portrait photography?
Yes. The 50MP main camera is excellent, with a nice balance of sharpness and character, and the 2x and 5x options are great for isolating your subject.
What are the Pixel 8 Pro camera focal lengths?
The ultra wide is about 12mm, the main camera 24mm and the 5x telephoto about 110mm equivalent.
Does the Pixel 8 Pro have manual camera controls?
Yes. You can set brightness, shadows, white balance, focus, shutter speed and ISO in the native camera app.
Is the Pixel 8 Pro slow in 50MP mode?
Shooting 50MP RAW plus JPEG, it slowed down after three to five quick shots. 12MP or JPEG only is much faster.
What presets did you use for these photos?
Most were edited with my Amalfi Lightroom preset pack, and the telephoto shots with Dulce.
Most photos in this post were edited with my Amalfi Lightroom preset pack and the telephoto shots with my Dulce pack. You might also like my Pixel 7 Pro camera review, my iPhone 15 Pro Max camera review and the best presets for iPhone and Pixel photos. Browse all my packs in the Lightroom Presets for Portraits collection, and if you're stuck between a few, you can buy any 3 presets and save 10%.
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